First Flare

[eternalfrolicbond]

[A lanky redheaded man in a long black coat waves at the screen, apparently already comfortable with how it works. A komory bat is fluttering around above his head.]

Didn’t think I’d see this place again. Hey, everyone, my name is Lea. [He grins.] Don’t forget it, now.

I don’t know how I ended up here again, but does anyone know what’s going on? The moogle said you guys had been trying to work out what was up but that it didn’t seem like anyone had figured out how to get home. Since this isn’t the exam, I don’t think anyone’s going to try to wake me up any time soon.

Comments

[dork_of_keys]

Join the club, Lea. No one's sure how we got here. We haven't really been making any progress on finding a way out either...

[Going by the background, it ought to be obvious Sora's somewhere in Second District.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

Hey, Sora.

[Well, this brings back recent and painful memories.]

I'm preeetty sure it involved going to sleep. So you're stuck...again?

[whoseesbynight]

Exam? No one mentioned an exam.

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea waves a hand.]

This isn't it so it doesn't really matter.

1/3

[seasaltkeys]

[Roxas can only stare at the screen in shock. He didn't think he'd ever see Axel again. It had been a possibility, but Roxas hadn't ever thought it would happen. He wasn't that lucky.]

2/3

[seasaltkeys]

Ax--

3/3

[seasaltkeys]

[Oh. Wait. He'd Lea hadn't he? The name catches in his throat as he tries to figure what to call him and comes out something like a strangled sigh. He's not ready for this. Doesn't know what to think or say and it's turning into an emotional pile up in his head.

In his panic, he turns the screen off.]

[video]

[alwaysfaithful]

You were here before?

[eternalfrolicbond]

Yeah...not exactly here, but I was in the realm of sleep before.

[Lea rubs the back of his head.]

Didn't have problems getting back that time, unlike some people I know, but I guess this is different.

[letteropener]

Hello, Lea. It is a pleasure to meet you.

[Hey, this answerer isn't human.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea pauses; the grey-skinned girl looked kind of human, but this lady definitely doesn't. Still, his worldview has to allow for ponies who talk.]

Uh, hi.

[Private to Lea.]

[skysmirror]

[Well, this person looks familiar. Xion hurriedly sets the connection to allow for a more private conversation. That done, she's about to happily greet Axel, when the name he used sinks in.

Right. Ienzo had mentioned that Axel's other was back. This is awkward, but she might as well say something.]

Hi, Lea.

[Private forever]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea stares at the girl on the monitor; she looks like Kairi but with black hair. There's an ache that rises in his chest, and he presses a hand over his heart. He doesn't remember meeting this girl in his life, ever.]

I...I should know you.

[colorbymemory]

[Namine looks surprised for a moment, then smiles.]

So it's Lea, now?

[Riku had mentioned that was the case at his point in time.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Well, this is a surprise, but a nice one. He hadn't expected to see Namine again after...well, after. Not that he'd expected to do anything ever again; you don't when you're dead, right?]

Yeah, it was time for a change.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

You have been here before as well?

[eternalfrolicbond]

Yeah, just in and out.

[They must've been trapped for a while if so many people are asking him that. It doesn't sound good for getting home.]

[frostyfuntimes]

Do people often forget a three letter name?

[Says the guy that no one knew existed for, like, 300 years. Details.]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea grins.]

Nah, but why take chances?

[Video]

[trademark_skull]

You been here before?

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Lea suppresses the urge to sigh; come on, he's said so already, but he guesses it isn't fair to expect people to check through all the messages that are coming really fast.]

Yeah, not too long ago.

1/2

[raisethemoon]

Good evening. I am Princess Luna, of...Equestria...

[She narrows her eyes slowly, having gone back through a few of those other comments.]

2/2; Private

[raisethemoon]

What dost thou know of Xehanort?

[defrostedpride]

Who is it thi -

[Scream]

[Abrupt disappearance of Even's face from visual]

[Sound as of communicator hitting a wall]

[eternalfrolicbond]

[Well, he can see that meeting's going to go well.]

Hello?

[salvagedlight]

[Welp, that's... not a face he expected to see. Especially not like that. Ienzo and Even and Aeleus to the contrary, sometimes it was still really hard for Ven to remember the time skip, and with the exception of Even they all looked the same. But still... there was his friend. Really the first friend he'd made after he lost Terra and Aqua... this couldn't be real, could it?]

[The basic outline just flies out of his head when he sees that face, definitely much older, but still recognizable. He's heard about everything that's happened in a general way, but at the moment it's not registering.]

...Lea?

[eternalfrolicbond]

[For a second he thinks it's Roxas, but he's already talking to Roxas, and this definitely isn't him. He has to think back; he knows he's seen this guy before somewhere...or maybe it's just that he looks so much like Roxas. No, they must have met, but it would've been ten years ago.]

[He starts as it clicks in his head. He'd just wanted to cheer the guy up, even though he and Isa were on their way somewhere, and he'd seemed cool.]

You're...Ven?